Grass-hook.



. No. 665,074. Patented Jan, I, l90l.

H. S. EA'RLE. GRASS HOOK.

(Application filed Nov. 18,]899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

.dttornys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORATIO S. EARLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GRASS-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,074, dated January 1, 1901. Application filed November 18,1899- Serial No. 737,415. KNO model-J T at whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HORATIO S. EARLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grass-Hooks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference I being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to grass-hooks; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

One object of the invention is to provide a grass-hook of strong and durable construction in which the arrangement of the parts is such that the handle when attached to the blade will incline upwardly, so as to carry the hand free vfrom the ground when the blade is in a horizontal position, as when in use.

A further object is to construct the tang of the blade so as to render it stiff and firm at the point where the helve or handle is attached thereto to render the union between the blade and the handle firm and obviate the twisting of the tang.

The above objects are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved grass-hook. Fig. 2 isan enlarged plan view of the tang of the blade, showing by dotted lines the position of the handle with respect thereto. Fig. 3 is a section through the tang and handle as on line 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the handle as on line 4 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the tang and handle as on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates the blade, suitably curved and provided with a strengthening-rib 2, running longitudinal of the back thereof. The tang 3 is formed integral with the blade and its upper and rear edges describe a right angle. Extending from the blade to the tang is. a strengthening-rib 4, which traverses said tang nearly parallel with the back edge thereof.

Formed through the tang, adjacent to the rib 4, are apertures 5, adapted to receive the bolts 6, which-secure the tang to the handle.

The handle 7, as will be seen, is polygonal in cross-section,being provided with laterallyprojecting ribs, which add strength and rigidity thereto. The handle is formed of metal and suitably curved, as shown, so as to present the hand-grip 8 in the proper position, while the lower end of the handle at the point of attachment to the tang is made broad and flat, as shown at 9, the curved portion of the handle leaving said flattened portion at an upward angle, as clearly shown at 10 in Fig. 3,

whereby the hand-grip 8 is raised above the plane of the blade, holding the hand of the operator free from the ground when the blade is in a working position. The broad attaching portion 9 of the handle is flat on its under face and is adapted to lie upon the tang over the concavo-convex rib 4, whose raised portion depends upon the under side of the tang. Thebolts 6, which pass through the tang, also pass through the flattened portion 9 of the handle and receive the nuts 11 on their upper ends, whereby the handle and tang are firmly united.

As will be observed, the blade and tang are formed integral of a thin piece of metal, making the blade light and keen. To render the tang of .a blade of this character sufficiently strong to withstand strain, the strengthening-rib 4 is employed, which is formed in the tang, as described, at the point of attachment of the handle thereto, thereby obviating the liability of the twisting of the blade at the tang and the consequent sagging of the point thereof and enabling the simple means of attaching the blade to the handle, as shown, to be employed. The rear edge 12 of the tang stands on a line with the rear edge of the fiat portion 9 of the handle, while the upper edge 13 of the tang terminates on a line with the upper edge of the said portion 9, producing a grass-hook free from angular projections and of simple and durable construction.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a grass-hook, the combination of the blade and tang, said tang having a flat upper face and extending at an angle from the blade and having a strengthening-rib pressed therein from the upper side which extends centrally of and parallel with the tang and curves from the tang into the blade, said tang having apertures therethrough in a line parallel with and adjacent to said rib, the handle having a broad flattened attaching portion with a straight under face covering the surface of the tang and lying over the rib therein, and the bolts passing through the apertures in said tang and through said attaching portion of the handle.

2. In a grass-hook, the combination of the blade and tang formed of a continuous piece of thin sheet metal with the tang projecting at an angle to the blade, said tang having a 

